Arc Fault breaker not tripped, but no power

3,614 Views | 5 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Absolute
Aggieangler93
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AG
I have a buddy with a home built in 2005 or so. He has Arc Fault breakers on certain circuits. He has one whole room with the lights and the outlets not powered for some reason. I suspect one of two things:

1. Short somewhere is not allowing the circuit to complete. Most likely an outlet, but I pulled the covers from all of them that we know are on the same zone last night, and none looked loose, or burnt. (None are backstabbed either.)

2. Other option I was thinking of, was the breaker itself, but when I am on the LOAD side of the breaker at the panel, it is testing fine.

Anyone have any other ideas for things we should check? I need to figure out where the initial plug in the circuit is, so that I can see if it is getting power. I will check that soon. Then I will trace my way down the line.

Maybe a GFCI in the circuit that I am not aware of? Never heard of a GFCI being put upstream from a light switch, but I know some idiots do wonderful things when building homes these days.
Class of '93 - proud Dad of a '22 grad and a '26 student!
Martin Q. Blank
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Quote:

I am on the line side of the breaker at the panel, it is testing fine.
Line side of the breaker is upstream - the panel bus bar. You are testing on the load side, right?

How are you testing it?
Aggieangler93
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AG
Sorry...meant to say Load side. I am testing by contacting the screw on top of the breaker and the neutral bar, using a voltmeter. I updated my original post to reflect your correction.
Class of '93 - proud Dad of a '22 grad and a '26 student!
Martin Q. Blank
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All outlets and lights on that circuit are out?
big ben
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AG
Check for voltage at the switch depending on the configuration of the house.
Absolute
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AG
Something disconnected or loose somewhere. Start tracing the circuit and checking connections and for power with you meter.
Absolute
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AG
Something disconnected or loose somewhere. Start tracing the circuit and checking connections and for power with you meter.
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